Journal box packing



Oct. 27, 1959 R. w. MILLER ETAL JOURNAL BOX PACKING 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 8, 1955 {NVENTORS WM 9 0d. 27, 1959 w, MlLLER ETAL 2,910,331

JOURNAL BOX PACKING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1955 INVENTORS.

OCL 27, 1959 w, MILLER ETAL 2,910,331

JOURNAL BOX PACKING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8, 1955 INVENTORS.

Oct. 27, 1959 R. w. MILLER 51 AL 2,910,331

JOURNAL BOX PACKING 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 8, 1955 II VVENTORS.

Oct. 27, 1959 R. w. MILLER ETAL JOURNAL BOX I ACKING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Feb. 8, 1955 INVENTORS United States JOURNAL BOX PACKINGApplication February 8, 1955, Serial No. 486,766

8 Claims. (Cl. 308-243) The present invention relates to a journal boxpacking for railway cars and the like, and more particularly, to ajournal box packing employing a resilient core encircled by alubricating waste blanket.

In the past, journal boxes have been conventionally packed withinterlaced waste threads of wool or cotton, or both. While this type ofpacking is satisfactory in many respects, the human element necessarilypresent in the packing and servicing of journal boxes has resulted in awide variety of differences in packing to the detriment of journallubrication. Moreover, since the waste threads of conventional packingsare secured in the packing mass only by the interlacing, there is anever present danger that waste gra will occur, which inevitably willlead to a hot box and a burned-ofi journal.

More recently there has been developed a packing package of uniform sizeand other characteristics which is readily installed in the journalboxes in proper relation to the journal and the oil cellar. Suchpackages have comprised, for instance, a laminated waste blanketencircling an elliptical or crescent shaped resilient core. While suchpackages have improved considerably over prior practices, they stillhave certain deficiencies which should be eliminated to provide a whollysatisfactory substitute for conventional waste packing. One of thesedeficiencies is that the package tends to roll in the journal box underthe action of the rotating axle and this action has the eifect of movingthe package toward one side of the journal box with consequent detrimentto lubrication.

The principal object of this invention is to overcome the deficienciesof existing packing packages and to retain the uniformity of packing andlubrication with freedom from waste grab provided thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reversible ortwo-sided journal box packing of rectangular orbook-shaped configurationincluding a laminated waste blanket encircling a resilient distendingcore.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved journalbox packing core and improved means for securing the core to theencircling waste blanket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a packing package havinga configuration and structural arrangement singularly adapted to preventobjectionable rolling of the packing in the journal box.

According to a preferred form of the present invention, we provide ajournal box packing comprising a substantially fiat package having asubstantially rectangular cross-section. The package includes a fiatresilient core comprising a pair of relatively flat, superposedresilient pads extending lengthwise of the packing, an envelopecomprising a laminated waste blanket encircling the core, and anH-shaped strap securing the superposed pads to the blanket. The web ofthe strap extends lengthwise of and between the pads and the legs of thestrap abut the ends of the respective pads and are secured to the edgesof the blanket. The strap and the envelope thus provide a pair ofrestricted pockets in which the relatively flat pads are disposed andthis arrangement firmly holds the atent 'ice pads in assembled position,thereby preventing movement of the blanket and the pads with respect toeach other, and providing a structural arrangement which efiectivelyprevents rolling. i

Other objects, uses and advantages will become apparent upon aconsideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

in the drawings: '7

Figure 1 is atransverse cross-sectional view through familiar parts of arailway car journal and journal box, showing same equipped with thepacking of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the journal,journal box and packing package illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the packing package shown in Figures 1and 2;

Figure 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal cross-sectional view ofone end of the packing, with parts broken away;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the waste blanket forming part of thepackage;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the various elementscomprising the package, particularly illustrating the far side of thepackage as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of one of the ends of the package, withparts broken away for clarity of illustration;

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the H-shaped strap for securing theillustrated synthetic rubber core of the package to the encirclingenvelope; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6 but showing the partsin assembled relation and with portions broken away to expose otherparts of the lubricator.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and Z of the drawings,reference numeral 10 indicates a conventional journal box on aconventional axle journal 11 with a packing according to the presentinvention, generally indicated by reference numeral 12, in place betweenthe lower portion of the journal and the bottom of the journal box inwhat is commonly referred to as the oil cellar of the journal box.

The package forming the illustrated form of packing comprises generally(see Figure 6) a laminated waste blanket or envelope 14, handle means16, the envelope and handle means forming a sub-assembly 18, a pair ofrelatively flat resilient pads 20 and an H-shaped strap 22 especiallyadapted to securely fasten the pads 20 within and tothe envelope. Theseelements are more specifically described hereinafter.

The waste blanket The waste blanket or envelope of the present inventioncomprises generally a layer or layers of carded waste interlaced througha carrier of fabric or sheet material, said carrier including capillarymaterial to raise lubricating oil to the layer of waste adjacent thejournal when the package of the present invention is positioned asdescribed above.

The blank from which the envelope or blanket 14 is formed may be of thetype described and illustrated in the applications of Robert J.Harkenrider, Serial No. 367,321, filed July 10, 1953, now Patent No.2,762,667, and Serial No. 419,029, filed March 26, 1954, now Patent No.2,801,138, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theinterests of brevity. Briefly, such a blank comprises (see Figures 4 and5) a relatively thick layer of waste 24 interlaced with a woven carriercloth 26 of a suitable type, such as open weave cotton-like laundry bagcloth, and a relatively thin layer of waste 28. As described in theaforesaid applications,

the three layers are thoroughly fastened together by passing themthrough a hooking machine of the type, for instance, illustrated inPatent No. 2,672,673, granted March 23, 1954. As the layer or layers ofwaste and fabric go through the machine, they pass over a hooking plate,where they are subjected to the action of a multitude of hooked needleswhich reciprocate up and down. As the layers of waste and fabric gothrough the action of the hooked needles, many of the waste threads arecaught by the hooks and pulled downwardly in loops through the remainderof the upper layer of waste, through the fabric, and the lower layer ofwaste, and formed into loops below the fabric. In some instances thewaste threads will be caught near the top of the upper layerin others,deeper into the layerbut the overall effect is to hook individualthreads of Waste through the mass of waste and the fabric and not onlyfasten those particular threads but associated threads into a blanket inwhich, generally speaking, all the threads are made fast against beingpulled out in service.

During this hooking operation the weave of the carrier is tightened orshrunk by the interlacing of the threads which are thereby brought intointimate contact with the threads of the cloth in such a way as topromote ready transfer of oil from the cloth to the waste threads. Thethinner layer 28 may be formed entirely by booking threads through thefabric 26, or it can be in part formed by feeding a thin layer of cardedwaste under the carrier cloth before reaching the hooking machine or ina supplementary or preliminary hooking machine.

While the interlacing of the threads as described in the aforementionedapplications insures that each and every thread of the waste is madefast, the inner or lower side of the thinner layer is preferably treatedand coated with an adhesive 29 to fasten at the under side of t eblanket all threads that go through to the under side of. the blanket.Additionally, the adhesive forms a pan or basin directly under thejournal for a reservoir of lubricating oil that will not drain awaywhile the car is still for a considerable period. It may also bementioned that the adhesive stabilizes the blanket in that it preventsundue stretching or launch ng of the material comprising the blanketunder the action of the rotating journal; thus the relatively stifflayer of adhesive provides a strengthening and reinforcing effect whichmaterially lengthens the useful life of the packing.

The adhesive may be made of any appropriate material, many of which areknown as rubber base cements. They may be used in powder form, sheetform, or liquid. Many of the so called synthetic rubbers areappropriate. for example, Hycar latex No. 1552, type OR-25, made frompetroleum by BF. Goodrich Chemical Company, Akron, Ohio, and thickenedwith a 12% ammonium casein solution. Several suitable types are secified in the aforementioned applications, and other suitable syntheticrubbers are descr bed in Materials Handbook by Brady, 1944, McGraw-HilLpage 523.

The sub-assembly 18 is formed by forming a loop out of a rectangularblank made as described above, with the adhesive facing inwardly, andbringing the end portions together as at 3t as shown more particularlyin Figures 6, 7 and 9. The edges and ends of the blank are bound asindicated at 32, which may be done by putting the blank through anedging or edge-stitching machine, the ends are held together by a fabricbacking 34, prefer ably having good capillary characteristics, stitchedas at 35 securely to both ends; it is also desirable to stitch the endsto each other as indicated at 36, said latter stitchmg also passingthrough the backing 34. The sub-assembly 18 is completed by securing apair of handles at 16 at one end of the'envelope, one of said handlesbeing secured to each side thereof. The handles generally comprise ametallic end piece or buckle 38 carried by a fabric holder or strap 40which is stitched to the sides of the envelope where indicated inFigures 3 and 6 PIQ erably, the strap adjacent the joined end portionsof the blanket is stitched to the inwardly facing side of the backing34, and the stitching preferably passes through both the backing and theblanket to further reinforce the envelope joint. The holders or straps40 may extend the full length of the package, or be relatively short inlength, as desired.

T he resilient core The resilient core of the present inventioncomprises a pair of generally flat, rectangular resilient pads 2t), eachof which is composed mainly of a stack of like parallel tubes 42 whereineach tube has a wall portion in common with other tubes 42 and integralwith them at adjoining corners 41. The pads may be conveniently made byextruding them in one piece, whereby the cellular structure is entirelyintegral and the distribution of the material makes it possible to havean extremely light, springy element with a strong resistance todeforming under pressure and a high recovery upon release, even afterbeing compressed for a long time under adverse temperature conditions.

Pads corresponding to those shown in Figures 2 and 5 can be made in agreat variety of forms. Almost any polygonal form can be extruded,whether regular, irregular, right-angular, or otherwise. Of the manypolygonal and generally polygonal forms which lend themselves to theapplication of the invention, the equilateral hexagon shown in Figures 6and 9 is chosen because it lends itself so readily to making such pads,and it has a structure particularly adapted for this purpose. Thespringiness of these pads is very well suited to the needs of holdingthe applicator 12 against the journal in spite of all the vibration,presence of oil, cold, and other conditions that obtain in the journalbox.

The pads illustrated in Figure 6 are preferably of synthetic rubber andmay be produced according to the teachings of the application of RobertI. Harkenrider,

1 Serial No. 418,442, filed March 24, 1954; said application alsodiscloses suitable materials for making the pads.

, in sections which are laterbonded together. For instance, the pads 20could be formed by extruding a number of narrower strips of the tubularmaterial and later trimming and bonding the strips together to form thepads 20, or the pads could be formed from a larger extruded stripsuitably trimmed to size.

The pads 20 are positioned one on either side of the strap 22 and thewhole inserted and secured to the subassembly 18, as hereinafterdescribed, to complete the' package 12 and form the resilient core ofthe package.

The securing strap The strap 22 is illustrated more particularly inFigures 6 and 8 and comprises a pair of strips or fabric members 43 of asuitable fabric placed side by side and stitched together down thecenters thereof as at 44 (see Figure 6), the sides thereof being hemmedas at 46. The ends of the strips 43 are bent away from each other to aposition in which they are in substantial alignment and fabric meanscomprising a strip of strong, non-stretchable cloth tape or itsequivalent 48 is secured to the angled ends of the strips 43, the tapes48 being stitched to both strips 43 as shown at 50. Preferably the areaof the strap 22 adjacent its rear end (that is, for instance, the righthand side of Figure 2) is rubberized with, for instance, Hycar latex, 0nthe inner or outer surface thereof, or both, somewhat as indicated at 51in Figure 8. Said latex is a product ofthe aforementioned B. F. GoodrichRubber Company,

It will be appreciated that the strap 22 assumes a substantiallyH-shaped configuration in which the portions of the strips 43 that areconnected together form the web 52 on the H and the normally disposedends form the legs 54 thereof.

The reason for rubberizing the rear end of the securing strap 22 is thatwhen the car is on an inside curve (with respect to the journal shown inFigures 1 and 2), lubricant within the package 12 will be retainedtherein and restrained from flowing out of the journal box over the lips71 at the rear of the journal box. The dotted line 72 in Figure 2 showsthe level which the lubricant might take when rounding an inside curve,with consequent loss of oil, were it not for the restraining action ofthe coating or impregnation 51. The front of the securing strap is notrubberized as free flow of lubricant between the oil cellar and theinterior of the package 12 is desirable, as is evident by the fact thatthe normal lubricant level should be somewhat as indicated at 73, andwhen filling the oil cellar, the oil level within the package shouldfollow rapidly the level in the cellar itself.

It may be noted that the conventional fiberboard or wood dust guard 74is not an effective seal against lubricant loss on curves.

To complete the assembly of the package 12, the pads 20 are positionedon either side of the web 52 and then these components of the inventionare inserted within the sub-assembly 18. The outer ends 56 of the legs54' are bent normally of the main portion of said legs to bring theminto engagement with the edges of the envelope 14 (see Figure 4) and theenvelope and said ends 56 are stitched together as at 58 (see Figure 4).Preferably, the tapes 48 are sufficiently long enough to be included inthe stitching 58, as indicated in Figure 4, and it is desirable tostitch the outwardly extending portions of ends 56 to the envelope asindicated at 60 in Figures 3 and 9.

When the package embodying this invention is to be put to use, it iscompressed and worked down under the journal into the position shown inFigures 1 and 2. Once in that position, the pads20 comprising theresilient core hold the package in place and prevent it from working outof the correct position. Due to the flatness and general rectangularshape of the package, and the securement of the resilient pad fasteningstrap 22, the tendency of the package to roll out from under the journaland to one side of the journal box is eliminated.

It will be observed that the package is substantially symmetrical, andthat when it is desirable to present a new surface against the journal,the package may be removed, turned over, and re-inserted. Thus the usedsurface of the blanket will be facing downwardly in the journal box andthe hitherto unused waste surface of the blanket will be in itsuppermost position in contact with the journal. The package is thereforea two-sided or reversible one with a corresponding increase in usefullife.

It will also be observed that the ends of the waste blanket 14 arejoined together at the side of the package and that since this portionof the package never comes into contact with the journal, it is notnecessary to take particular pains to insure that this portion of thepackage presents a substantially continuous lubricating surface. Thebacking 34 raises the oil from the lower end of the blanket (when thepackage is in operating position) to the upper end thereof and this,together with the action of the carrier 26 on the other side of thepackage, provides more than adequate lubricating oil for application tothe journal.

The handle means 16 makes it relatively easy to remove the package fromthe journal. The buckle or metallic end piece 38 is formed with anopening adapted to receive a hook similar to that ordinarily found onthe box packers tool, and by which the package may b withdrawn from thejournal box.

As we have indicated hereinbefore, one of the salient features of ourpacking is the elimination of the tendency of the packing to roll outfrom under the journal. Our journal box packing provides this result forseveral important reasons.

In the first place, prior packings and/or the cores therefor have been,in many instances, generally elliptical in cross-sectionalconfiguration, with the portion of the packing including the minor axisof the elliptical crosssectional configuration in contact with thejournal. That is, the minor axis of the ellipse is substantiallyvertically disposed when the packing is in position between the journaland the bottom of the journal box oil cellar. Referring to Figure 1, itwill be appreciated that if a packing having an ellipticalcross-sectional configuration were in position under the journal, ratherthan the illustrated packing 12, a large portion of the packing would bedisposed immediately under the journal and smaller portions thereofwould extend to either side thereof, with the result that the distendingaction of the packing would be greater at the center than at the sides,with consequent increase of compressive forces acting within the center.

It has been found that the application of a relatively small amount ofsidewise force tending to urge the packing out from under the journal,such as that provided by the action of the rotating journal on the uppersurface of the packing, is suflicient to move the elliptical packing toone side of the journal, due to the fact that these greater pressures atthe center of the packing greatly accentuate the tendency of therotating journal to urge the packing in the direction of rotation. Thiscondition is further accentuated by the fact that in ellipticalpackings, or packings employing elliptical cores, the upper surface ofthe elliptical body may easily be moved sidewise with respect to thelower surface thereof. The overall result is the aforementioned tendencyof prior packings to roll out from under the journal.

We have found that this tendency to shift and roll is substantiallyreduced by providing a relatively flat packing, or one having agenerally rectangular cross-sectional configuration, as distinguishedfrom elliptical, as the compressive forces present within the center ofthe packing are not excessive as compared to the forces within thepacking at the sides thereof. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the distendingaction of the packing and therefore the compressive forces acting withinthe packing are evenly distributed on the journal, and will remain soeven if the packing tends to shift to one side of the journal.

We have also found that the tendency of the upper surface of the packingto move sidewise of the lower surface, under the action of the journal,is eliminated by forming the core out of a pair of flat pads, andsecurely attaching each pad to the sides of the envelope adjacent each.Figure 9 makes it clear that the pads 20 in the restricted pocketsformed by the H-shaped strap 22 and the body of the envelope areeffectively restrained from sidewise movement with respect to each otheror to the envelope by the secure attachment of the strap to the edges ofthe envelope. It will also be observed that the tapes 48 act as bondsbetween the upper and lower surfaces of the envelope, as well as betweenthe two strips 43 forming the H-shaped strap 22, and further restrainsidewise movement of the upper surface of the packing with respect tothe lower surface thereof.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate our invention, and the invention is not to be limitedthereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited sincethose skilled in the art who have our disclosure before them will beable to make modifications and variations therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A journal box packing comprising an envelope, a resilient coreencircled by said envelope, said core comprising a pair of superposedresilient pads extending lengthwise of the packing, and an H-shapedstrap securing said pads within said envelope, with the Web of saidstrap extending lengthwise of and between said pads and the legs of thestrap being secured to the edges of said envelope. 7

2. A journal box packing comprising an envelope, a resilient coreencircled by said envelope, said core comprising a pair of relativelyflat, superposed resilient pads extending lengthwise of the packing, andan H-shaped strap securing said pads within said envelope, with the webof said strap extending lengthwise of and between said pads and the legsof the strap abutting the ends of the respective pads and being securedto the edges of said envelope.

3. A journal box packing comprising an envelope, a resilient coreencircled by said envelope, said core comprising a pair of superposedresilient pads extending lengthwise of the packing, and an H-shapedstrap securing said pads within said envelope, with the web of saidstrap extending lengthwise of and between said pads and the legs of saidstrap extending over the ends of the respective pads and being securedto said envelope, said strap including connecting means extending thelength of said legs.

4. A journal box packing including a resilient core and an envelopeencircling the core, and improved means for securing the core within theenvelope comprising a pair of superposed fabric members stitchedtogether along the centers thereof, with the ends being foldable awayfrom each other to a position normally of the members, said ends adaptedto be secured to said envelope, and fabric means connecting the adjacentends of said members.

A journal box packing including a resilient core and an envelopeencircling the core, and improved means for securing the core within theenvelope comprising a pair of superposed fabric members stitchedtogether along the centers thereof, with the ends being foldable awayfrom each other to a position normally of the-members, said ends adaptedto be secured to said envelope, and

fabric means connecting the adjacent ends of said merit-- here, saidfabric means extending between the upper and lower edges of saidenvelope, and being secured thereto.

6. The packing set forthin claim 1 wherein said legs of said strap atone end of the packing are covered with lubricant resisting materialonat least one surface thereof.

7. A journal lubricator including an envelope of capillary material, aresilient core encircled by said envelope and a mounting harnesssecuring said core within said envelope and comprising end strapsoverlying the ends of the core and secured to said envelope along itsupper and lower end edges, and a lengthwise continuous web extendinglengthwise through the core intermediately thereof and secured to saidstraps to interconnect said straps.

8. In a journal lubricator that includes a flexible envelope ofcapillary material encircling a resilient core that extends lengthwisetherein, the improvement wherein said core comprises superposedresilient pads and a mounting harness secures said pads within saidenvelope and comprises end straps overlying the ends of the core andsecured to said envelope along its upper and lower end edges, and alengthwise continuous separator web between said pads and extendinglengthwise through the core and secured to said straps to interconnectsaid straps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES Perfect Journal Lubrication, published by LubricationProducts Co., June 1, 1937.

